After running from California Adventure Park to get a ride into LA, we were safely delivered to the Celebrity Hotel in Hollywood. Again, the room is great and is a two minute walk through a shopping centre to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
As we were driving down Hollywood Blvd, we noticed that there was a lot of activity outside Grauman's. After checking in, went back to check it out and they were setting up for the premiere of a movie called Street Talk. We had absolutely no idea who the actors were, but it was still fun to watch the stars walking up, having their photos taken and doing interviews. Our camera is now full of photos of celebrities that we didn't know (from quite a distance however). We did work out that one of the guys was Pheobe's cop boyfriend in Friends and another was some guy out of Picket Fences.
Almost every single time we have had drinks or been out for dinner, we have been asked for ID. They seem to ask everyone here. Our first night in Hollywood we went to a restaurant with touch screens on the tables where you order your own drinks and meals, allocating them to your name on the table. You can also play group games, do trivia etc so this was a bit of fun. The guy serving us didn't really deserve his tips at that place.
On Tuesday we had booked a tour of LA City, beaches and stars homes. The tour itself was great. The tour guide was a bit of a tool. He was about 60 or so, and kept
telling us all about the stars that he knows and who he has met. We
thought he was full of crap. To top things off, he opened his door
twice on the freeway, hawked up and spat out of the door. I was nearly
sick...talk about professional! Hollywood itself is pretty scummy, with lots of rough looking people on the streets. People are constantly asking for money or trying to sell tours to you. West Hollywood and Beverly Hills are stunning, with perfectly manicured streets and gardens, and massive, very expensive looking houses.
We were looking forward to going to Venice Beach, but it was a bit of a let down; again is pretty rough and apparently is a big drug area. It was interesting to watch guys playing basketball on the courts from White Men Can't Jump and to see Muscle Beach were Baywatch was filmed. It was a pretty crappy day weather wise, so it was kind of hard to get in beach mode. We also went to Santa Monica which is famous for it's pier and carnival. This was much nicer than Venice Beach. The tour also went to Downtown LA which is the business district of LA.
Although it has been great to come to LA, I think that it is the kind of thing that you would only do once, unless you are going to Disneyland. That said it was fun doing the touristy things and seeing the Hollywood sign.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams is now behind us and we are heading to Vegas baby!!
Ange & Turls xx
PS By the way, for those who haven't noticed, there are more photos saved under Photo Galleries on the right hand side of the screen :)
